News Release

Two faculty members were honored at the 2011 Faculty Excellence Awards in November. Professor of Mechanical Engineering Jonathan Weaver received the Distinguished Faculty Award and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Nihad Dukhan was recognized for the Faculty Achievement Award.

Since 1997, the University has honored outstanding faculty that exemplify the mission and purposes of the institution with these important academic awards.

Acknowledged as an exceptional teacher, Jonathan Weaver has taught more than 20 different courses during his tenure at UDM, many that he designed himself in the areas of Product Development and Innovation. He was designated a KEEN Fellow with a grant from the Kern Family Foundation, creating curriculum in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was awarded the KEEN Faculty Excellence Award in 2010.

Weaver has also presented at a number of universities on innovation, product development and technical entrepreneurship. He has also provided training seminars to industry partners. In 2009, he was one of only 49 of the nation’s brightest young engineering faculty to participate in the National Academy of Engineering’s first Frontiers of Engineering Education symposium.

At UDM, Weaver helped to procure research funds for more than 75 master’s theses, co-authored a book on mechanism design using CATIA, written more than 30 publications and presentations, and developed or revised a variety of course work and training materials. His commitment to excellence has greatly benefited his students and the engineering profession.

Nihad Dukhan was acknowledged for his student-centered teaching, internationally recognized research, and service to the University, profession and community. Described as knowledgeable, approachable, creative and solution-oriented, Dukhan has advised many students working on projects, theses and dissertations. He is recognized for his critical research on metal foam work and has written 20 journal articles and more than 55 conference papers as well as participated on panels or advisory boards for international engineering conferences.

Consistent with UDM’s mission, Dukhan has offered his heat transfer course as a service-learning course in collaboration with the WARM Training Center of Detroit. He also has served as an advisory board member for Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation Inc. Dukhan has embodied the teacher-scholar model in higher education with strong student evaluations and highly regarded metal foam research.

Release date:
December
13,2012

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The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest private Catholic University, offering approximately 100 majors and programs in 60 academic fields. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the University has three campuses located in downtown and northwest Detroit.

For the 11th consecutive year, UDM was ranked among the top tier of Midwestern master's universities in U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" – 2012 edition.